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Travel Pics Theme: P for Pacific. Fiji’s Tivua Island

Back in 2006, on our first overseas trip, My wife (Shirley) and I were joined by my sister and her husband as we stayed at a Worldmark resort on Denarau Island in Nadi, Fiji.

We were already owners in the ‘time-share’ holiday company but my sister and her hubby were not – so they were invited to attend a presentation outlining the benefits of the system. In return for their time, they were offered a day-trip to a nearby island.

They didn’t buy into Worldmark (or Trendwest, as it was then) – but they did take the free trip on offer .. and we joined them.

The island in question was marketed then as “Mystery Island” – but it’s more correct name is Tivua.

One of the Mamanuca islands off Viti Levu, Tivua is a pretty little coral cay that is used as a day-trip for tourists from Nadi.

It’s small enough to walk around in 20 minutes, and offers some quiet swimming sports, moderately interesting snorkelling and diving areas, and a typical rainforest tropical island vibe.

One of the things that guides offer to day-trippers is a walk through the trees, pointing out the uses to which plants are used in local medicine, construction, food and play.

There’s also snorkelling, as mentioned, and scuba ‘resort dives’ (carefully controlled dives in waters of less than 10 metres, lasting perhaps a half-hour: a sort of “introduction to scuba diving”).

There are no permanent residents – and only two small bures used occasionally for overnight visitors.

The island is operated by Captain Cook Cruises – the last remnants of a family-owned company bought out by the much larger Sealink which uses the Ra Marama, a ‘tall ship’ named after a war canoe that uses its inboard diesel – but also unfurls sails under the right conditions, for a spectacular voyage to and from Tivua.

If you are holidaying in Nadi in Fiji – and especially if you are at the resorts on Denarau Island – then a trip to Tivua is a great way to spend a day.